Ep 107 Anita Connell at the AMTA Conference Part 2

This episode of Music Therapy Conversations features a compelling second part of Anita Connell's interviews from the 50th Australian Music Therapy Association (AMTA) Conference, highlighting diverse perspectives from leading practitioners. Grace Thompson reflects on her early career in music therapy during the 1990s, emphasizing her journey from a young, enthusiastic student to a pioneer in family-centered and community-based practice. She discusses the shift from classroom-based therapy in special schools to home-based interventions, the challenges of working with parents who feel ineffective, and the importance of co-creating musical experiences that families can sustain beyond therapy. Her research focus on goal articulation and lived experience underscores the need for more authentic, narrative-driven evidence in the field. Brodie Henry and Zoe Calendritus share their lived experiences as music therapists with hearing differences, presenting a powerful session titled 'Puff'—an Auslan sign symbolizing realization. They advocate for a deaf-centered approach to music therapy, redefining 'listening' through multi-sensory engagement, including vibration, touch, and visual cues. Their work challenges hearing-centric models and calls for greater inclusion of disabled and neurodivergent voices in research and practice. Rob Devlin, a veteran music therapist and director of Sound Expression, shares his transformative career shift from corporate life to music therapy, trained in the Nordoff-Robbins approach. He discusses the therapeutic use of improvisation and songwriting to support speech development in non-verbal clients, and reflects on the emerging role of AI in music therapy—using tools like Suno to co-create meaningful songs with clients. He also explores the delicate balance between performance and therapy, especially in group settings, and affirms that music therapists are first and foremost therapists who use music intentionally. The episode closes with a strong call for reflective, critical, and inclusive practice that centers human connection and lived experience. Key takeaways include: 1) Family-centered music therapy is not about replacing the therapist but empowering caregivers to sustain musical engagement; 2) Redefining 'listening' through multi-sensory, deaf-centered models enhances accessibility and authenticity; 3) AI can be a valuable tool in music therapy when used collaboratively, not as a replacement for human connection; 4) Therapists must be comfortable with silence and non-musical moments, especially in mental health work; 5) Authentic research must center lived experience, particularly from disabled and neurodivergent communities; 6) The future of music therapy lies in inclusive, ethical, and human-centered practice that values both art and science.